Fixing Subtitle Issues in IfoEdit?

I'm new to this forum and have experience of authoring DVDRs in DVD-Lab and Scenarist, but little experience of IfoEdit - which I think is the tool I should be using to fix the issues I have. The problem is that when playing a DVDR, the subtitles are displayed automatically, which isn't that big a deal, but the second problem is that I can't disable the subtitles - I can cycle through the various subtitles, but I can't disable them. I thought about re-authoring the DVD in DVD shrink and removing the subs, but I receive an error message;

' DVD Shrink encountered an error and cannot continue.

Failed to open file "D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_02.VOB" '

the DVD plays fine other than the problem with the subs.

Ideally I'd like to keep the subs. Is there any way I can fix it so that subs are not displayed by default and I can turn them off if I so desire?

Viewtiful, I had similar problem as you - inexperienced and intimidated by Ifoedit. Been putting it off learning for months until I must commit myself. Now tools I usually use are Ifoedit and DVDRemake, and I'm learning quite a bit, partly b/c I have a programming background.

I did use the link provided by drchips, but it doesn't always work. It can be reset somewhere else. Each DVD is different.

1. Can you play VTS_01_02.VOB file independently?
2. Based on the given PGC Command Table, I already see a logical error: lines 4&5. The subtitle will be turned off in the end. You mention that the subtitle is on automatically. One possibility is that your DVD Player's Preference is to turn on subtitle by default upon insert. Another possibility is that it's turned on in a different PGC.

First, I'm assuming you copy this from the Subtitle Menu, or the PGC that determines where the subtitle is set. Here's my interpretation and fixes:

Line#1 If GPreg<6> == (cmp-val)<64><' then Goto line# 4
means if R[6] == 4 then goto line #4 and set subtitle on.
Line#2 If GPreg<6> == (cmp-val)<71><' then Goto line# 5
means if R[6] == 71 then goto line #5 and set subtitle off. (I'm assuming that the None button was selected)

Now, here's where the logic error begins. After line#4 executes, line#5 executes. This doesn't make sense. Here's what you do:

As I say, I'm not sure if the Doom9 guide just didn't apply to my situation, or if it's just because I've got no experience of IFOEdit. There were a few things I was uncertain of, so I made some assumptions and experimented.

So I was just going to leave this alone, until I could read up more about IFOEdit - saw a good guide on Doom9. By the by, I have visited DVDRHelp.com and Doom9.org on past occasions and I Googled, before posting for assistance, but nothing really relevant came back. Someone did post a subtitle problem in here and received excellent help, so I thought I would try.

Anyway, back to the nitty gritty. To answer some of your questions...

VTS_01_02.VOB can not be played as it does not exist.

I don't think it can be an issue with my DVD player as no other DVD I have plays with subs on, by default. This doesn't explain why I can't turn the subs off.

There are 8 different subtitles in particular. I had no idea there was a subtitle menu.

The PGC Command Table I typed out (only realised there was a Copy2Clipboard button afterwards! *L*) was from VTS_01_0.IFO, which I assumed was the main movie's IFO. Another assumption I made was that I had break commands.

Finally, after making changes and clicking 'Get VTS sectors'. Closing IFOEdit down, I'm prompted to save the changes. The default file name that comes up is VTS_07_0.IFO, so I assume I should overwrite that IFO, which I have been doing. This seemed a little strange to me, but opening up VTS_01_0.IFO the changes have been saved.

Following your instructions, Toaddub, I got a little confuzzed. When you said click line #4, I assumed you meant '4.Pre Command' and not actually the 4th line of the PGC Command Table, which reads 'Size of Command table in bytes' because doing so on the latter, didn't bring up a NOP line. So right-clicking line #4 and clicking Insert Command, I don't get a NOP on the new line #5. What WAS line #4 got shifted down and the new NOP line is on line #4. I didn't have to edit the 'Size of Command table in bytes' as it ended up at 71.

Having burnt the movie to DVDRW and tested it, the problem still exists. I don't know if this matters, but when playing the movie and bringing up the subtitle menu, the display reads 'Subtitles Off'. Which isn't right, as subtitles, are being displayed...

ok, may I ask, what movie are you working on? Maybe I have a copy and better assist you with.

What version of DVD Shrink are you using?

>VTS_01_02.VOB can not be played as it does not exist.
This is weird. Is your source original? I'm confused. How can you burn to DVDRW if you have problem shrinking it as it gives an error? Did you try this: Use the original, select everything in DVDShrink, shrink it to HD. Does it give an error? If yes, maybe the source is corrupt!?

Based on what you told me, now I'm not really sure that the PGC Command Table you give is from the main movie's IFO. How can the main movie be only VTS_01_1.VOB? That's only 1GB. To determine if it's the main movie, there are 2 ways (for simplicity):

1. The VTS that has the biggest file size is likely the one. e.g. VTS_02_1.VOB to VTS_02_5.VOB. This is to assume that you only have the full screen or wide screen version, not both.

2. Open up VIDEO_TS.IFO in IfoEdit. In the VMG Overview, look at 'Number of Title Play Maps' section.
The Title that has the most chapters is most likely the main movie. The associated VTS_0x_* vob files will verify that.

Suggestion on IfoEdit: It is good practice to back up first of files that you know you'll change. Personally, I'll backup all ifo files and vts_0x_0.vob (usually menu vobs). Open only one file to edit. 'Save' it. Then 'Get VTS Sectors'. Click 'Yes' to process all IFO files (if any ifo file that needs address correction, it will be corrected and saved). Then 'Quit'.

Back to the edit instructions of the PGC commands, I guess I was not being too clear. I mean the Pre-Command lines. oops, your final PGC command table is wrong. I gave you the wrong instruction on step #1. It should be:

I suggest you find the PGC where the Subtitle Menu resides, and post PGC Command Table again. It often resides in the VTSM_PGC_UT (Video Title Set Menu PGCI Unit Table) of the main movie IFO. DVDRemake or MenuEdit (registered version will show the picture) would greatly help you. DVDRemake PRO is the better one. http://dimadsoft.com/products.php These tools will make your life easier in identifying where all the menus and navigations are. It's very hard to do that with IfoEdit.

For testing purposes, you don't have to burn to DVDRW everytime so you won't waste your time, until you're sure everything works fine on software DVD player.

Looks like GPreg<5> and GPreg<6> contain the value for audio and subpicture. These variables can be set from the buttons in Subtitle menu based on your selection, or from some PGC in VTS Menu PGCI Unit Table.

When you mention you're cycling through the subtitles, do you cycle it from the subtitle menu or from the subtitle button on your remote? You should be able to disable it from your remote.

btw, I notice on some DVDs that if you select a specific audio from the menu, it may automatically set the appropriate subtitle as well. e.g. I select French audio, subtitle is forced off or set to French subtitle , which is not listed in the menu. So this maybe your problem.

I modified the PGC Command Table of VTS_01_0.ifo, copying yours line by line and tested without success. I noticed that in VTS_01_0.ifo, under VTS_PGCITI, there a total of 3 VTS_PGCs, with the same PGC Command table, so I edited VTS_PGC_2 and VTS_PGC_3 as I did with the first, but again no joy. Finally I edited line 2 of the main movie IFO VTS_02.0.IFO\VTS_PGCITI\VTS_PGC_1 as such

When I said I could cycle through the various subtitles, I meant during movie playback, I could change subtitle by hitting the subtitle button on my remote control. Using the shortcut to disable subtitles, doesn't work. However, at the main menu, there's an Options sub-menu in which I can disable the subs. So I have a choice of leaving them on by default, or turning them off. This means that if I play the movie as it is, I can't turn the subs off and if I disable the subs in the Options menu, I can't display any subs during the playback, which is a bummer.

I feel like I've taken up far too much of your time and I think probably the best thing to do now is to leave the DVD as it is. This isn't that big a problem and I think I like the DVD enough to buy an original copy of it. What I will be doing is reading up on IFOEdit, to gain a better understanding of it.

I really want to thank you Toaddub for your assistance and patience. Thank you too, DrChips for referring me to that guide.